Protector's Curse

by Keith Walsh

  “Don’t split hairs with me Sister. I am in no mood,” he said, his eyes blazing. Sister looked at him, confused. “You look cross. Do you intend to harm me?” she pressed, fully aware of the thin ice she walked upon. The words caught Dallious off guard. He meant no harm to Sister at all. His eyes wide he fought for calm before forcing his head into his left hand and gripping it hard. “What is happening to me?” he asked rhetorically. “I feel like my mind is not my own. This is not me, this is not who I am. I don’t understand what is happening to me,” he continued.

  Seeing the change in him, Sister moved towards him and pulled his hand away from his head so she could look into his eyes. He didn’t meet her gaze at first but slowly lifted his head and looked at her, his eyes filled with sorrow. “You are you, Dallious, but your emotion, your anger, is overwhelming you. Perhaps it is grief, perhaps guilt or maybe psychological trauma from the loss of your hand. Perhaps it is a mix of all of these… but you need to stay strong before you lose your mind,” she said.

  He shook his head.

  “I am trying Sister. My emotions have often got the better of me and right now I feel overwhelmed. I feel hate, a terrible hate burning within me and there seems no way to vent it. How am I to fight with no hand?” he asked, his despair evident. In his mind he knew he was skilled with his left also but not enough to beat Kalen. Sister felt like she was dealing with one of the orphans. Had Dallious’ mind really been broken this badly? She had never seen him like this. He always carried himself well, walking tall and proud. He radiated presence when he entered a room. She felt unsure that he could overcome this but would do what she could to help.

  “Listen to me Dallious. You still have one good hand and what you have learned to do with your right you can learn to do with your left. You must be strong. You are here for a reason.” She could see that her words fell on deaf ears. Dallious pulled his hand from hers and moved past her, making no effort to avoid jostling her out of his way as he went. Before exiting the kitchen he turned to her. “Thank you for caring for my wounds. Please see to it that Sister and Dunst have proper burials. Feel free to feed the others to the wolves.” With that he made to leave but stopped when Sister spoke. “You think those men you killed do not deserve a proper burial? You think them evil?” asked Sister with some irritation.

  Dallious looked at her for a moment. “You do not?” he asked her. “No,” she replied, “they simply followed orders. You have killed in the past for the sake of orders, have you not Dallious? Does that make you evil?” she said accusingly. Dallious just walked from the room, but she heard his now-faint voice say. “I don’t know what I am anymore.”

  Chapter 7

  Atheles sat sombrely upon his horse, his thoughts on what had happened at the convent. He cared not for the men who lost their lives, he had taken many within his own, nor for what would become of the man Dallious. But Sister, her death lay heavily on his heart and somehow his very soul felt blackened despite not being the dealer of the killing blow. He knew Kalen well and should have seen it coming but for some reason he had missed it. He would not have been able to halt Kalen physically but he might have at least tried to convince him to stop had he read his master’s intention properly.

  They had pushed their horses hard during what was left of the light and now with the beasts nearing exhaustion they plodded along by torchlight. Travelling at night could be dangerous but Kalen would not listen and Atheles remained unable to convince the man to make camp. Resting the horses now would also be beneficial for the morrow. Kalen interrupted his thoughts. “What on Earth is up with you Atheles?” he asked. “You are acting like a spoilt child.” Atheles locked his eyes to Kalen’s back, his companion being at the fore.

  “Aye, and you would know all about that wouldn’t you?” he replied, spitting the words out, doing nothing to disguise his disgust. Kalen reined in his horse, turning it sideways so he could face Atheles. He held the torch in his other hand out towards his companion allowing him to see his face clearly. He stared fiercely at the brooding figure in front of him.

  “Careful Atheles, you have been trying my patience much of late and you would do well to tread lightly.” Atheles held Kalen’s gaze for a moment, then looked to the ground and spat. He held this position, awaiting any response from his master. Kalen just laughed sinisterly, turned his horse and kicked it to life. “You are becoming a rabid dog Atheles,” he said over his shoulder. Then come put me down you bastard, thought Atheles before following.

  The night air felt cool and for the most part the sky was clear but for a few high clouds. The moon shone brightly but had not yet reached its zenith. Not quite crescent, not quite full, thought Atheles, breathing deeply and savouring the cool air, holding it in his lungs before exhaling. On its release it fogged and he watched it carry away on the breeze and it was in this action that he noticed smoke floating into the night sky. “Kalen, we may have company ahead,” said Atheles.

  Kalen halted and held the torch out away from his eyes allowing them to adjust to the darkness. Once settled he peered at the night sky and saw what his companion had seen moments before – smoke. “How far do you think Atheles?” asked Kalen not taking his eyes from the scene. Atheles took a moment to consider the distance, knowing it impossible to be exact but he could hazard a good guess. “No more than a mile I’d say. Judging by the amount of smoke, it’s only a few people – maybe two, possibly three. I almost missed it…” he replied while carefully moving his mount alongside Kalen’s. “What do you want to do?” he asked.

  Kalen looked briefly at his companion then back at the smoke. “What makes you think there are so few?” he said at last. Atheles looked to his master with some confusion. “As I just said, it’s the amount of smoke.” Kalen looked at him in a way that suggested he wanted more details and Atheles obliged. “Large parties tend to build larger fires. It’s not so much to do with the heat as the mentality of the thing. Larger parties spread out more around a campsite and as such it leaves a bigger area amongst them, which makes them feel a bigger fire is needed. Bigger fire, more smoke,” continued Atheles, awaiting a response from Kalen. After consideration, his master spoke. “I see. Well a few people are of no concern to us—”

  “I may be wrong of course,” interrupted Atheles. Kalen looked somewhat irritated at being cut off mid-sentence and responded bluntly. “Move,” he said and with that he kicked his horse forward. Atheles cared not about Kalen’s tone, he had become used to it during their time together and now his anger flowed like water off a duck’s back. He followed without argument. The road they travelled would soon turn away from their intended direction and they would leave it to enter the forest and perhaps find the owners of the fire.

  Chapter 8

  Jack writhed in pain. Whatever had bitten him must have been venomous and now it coursed through his veins. His head pounded and he was sweating heavily. His mother tended to him with a damp cloth, dabbing it across his forehead, but it did little to ease his pain or his temperature. His father Tom had lit a fire despite protests from mother. She worried that whatever had bitten him would find them but father insisted the fire was needed. “It’ll keep the wolves away,” he had said.

  Jack didn’t care about wolves right now. He felt for sure he would die and a fire did little to help his resistance to the venom. His horse had fallen in the attack and although he hoped it survived he somehow doubted it. He began to cry, his tears a mixture of pain and sorrow. He looked to his father’s horse and saw the animal on its side, its breathing laboured and its body lathered in sweat. His father had acted quickly during the attack and lifted Jack on to his own horse. Then he kicked the animal into a gallop until it collapsed, trying to put as much distance between them and whatever had attacked them as he could. The horse would most likely perish. How they had managed to evade hitting anything in the darkness dumbfounded him.

  His mother’s horse still stood, its body also lathered in sweat but it bore only a single rider and although
breathing heavily it appeared to be in good health. He screamed loudly as another bout of pain shot through him.

  “Oh Tom, what can we do? We have to help him, please,” cried his mother looking to his father in desperation. Father moved quickly to her side and knelt. He looked at Jack fearfully then back to mother, his hands on his head. “I don’t know what to do Cara, I have no idea what has bitten him. I have never seen the likes. What has the power to topple a horse with such ease?” he looked at mother with disbelief.

  Their concern and urgency had heightened since his condition worsened. The effect of the venom had not been immediately evident but now the pain had intensified. Jack screamed again, his body jerking violently and his mother pulled him to her chest hugging him tightly. “Shush, my poor baby, shush, I’m here,” she said running her fingers through his hair and kissing his cheek.

  Tom removed the blanket from his son’s left leg to examine the area where the bite wound was. Taking a hunting knife from his belt he sliced away the boy’s leggings to reveal several deep puncture wounds that oozed a green slime. Tom had seen venom before and this looked nothing like it. He figured the lack of light was playing tricks on him as he saw the green slime move further through the leg, causing green tributaries to appear along the skin. It seemed to move with purpose towards the boy’s upper body. He considered trying to clean the wounds but in truth he was afraid to touch them for fear of making things worse. He really didn’t know the best course of action.

  Tom looked to Cara and saw the fear and desperation in her eyes. He made to speak but could not find the words, he simply shook his head and rested a hand supportively on his son’s leg. Tears streamed down his cheeks and when Cara saw them she just gripped Jack tighter, sobbing uncontrollably. She always relied on her husband to have the answers when it came to the way of the forest. His knowledge had proven extensive and wise on many past occasions and his lack of it here frightened her greatly. Suddenly Jacks body went still, his agonised cries falling silent.

  “No, oh God no, please. Tom! He’s stopped moving Tom!” she screamed, despite her husband being right next to her. Tom burst into action. “No Jack, don’t go son, please don’t leave us,” he said, pushing his wife aside and grabbing his son’s body. Laying it flat on the blankets he pressed his head against the boy’s chest, desperate for a heartbeat. He could find none. “No, this can’t be happening, please God!” he cried again brushing his sons hair feverishly and shaking his prone body.

  It was to no avail. The body remained lifeless, no more than a ragdoll in his hands.

  Cara screamed and tried to pry her husband away but he grabbed a hold of her and forced her head into his chest and held her tight, his emotion unmasked. “No my love, don’t look at him. He’s gone Cara. Our boy is gone…” he said, his voice barely a whisper. She tried to force herself from his grip but he remained strong, one arm around her back the other holding her head to his chest, his resting above hers. There the two cried together, lost in their grief.

  ***

  Kalen raised his hand giving the signal to halt and Atheles responded. “Do you hear that?” Kalen asked. Atheles listened intently for a moment. “Yes, it sounds like crying,” he said at last. “Indeed, I thought perhaps my ears played tricks on me,” said Kalen. “No,” replied Atheles. “It is most likely from the camp smoke we saw earlier.” Kalen laughed cruelly and gave a wicked grin. “With any luck it will be the girl we seek, crying at the loss of her protector,” he said. Atheles ignored him.

  “Fear not, I do not really believe that to be the case Atheles. I’m sure the girl and the giant are long gone by now but I have heard of unnatural things roaming these forests, especially at night…” continued Kalen, his eyes flashing with mockery. “Yet we travel through it anyway, and at night no less,” countered Atheles. Kalen laughed again. “Come now Atheles, bards make their coin by spreading tales and fables. You would believe such nonsense? You act like a spooked child,” he said. “I am not so arrogant as to believe I know everything of this world Kalen. As such I remain wary, especially in places I have not yet travelled.”

  Kalen smiled at him. “I’m not quite sure you answered my question but there is wisdom in your reply nonetheless. Although when you are as magnificently skilled as I such concerns are fleeting.” Kalen’s mood darkened towards the end of his boast. “Come,” he ordered, “let us find these… people.”

  ***

  Despite his best efforts, Tom failed to comfort his wife. His own emotions threatened to overwhelm him but he needed to be strong for her sake. He had just lost a son, he did not want to lose a wife as well and he was nervous that whatever attacked the boy might be pursuing them. He hoped his son’s fallen horse would provide enough of a meal to sate the thing’s appetite but then he did not even know if the attack had been fuelled by a need to feed. He closed his eyes and tried to remember what had happened. It had all been so fast.

  Something had burst from the trees. He tried to focus on the shape of it but he couldn’t make it out. All he remembered was reacting to his son’s fall. He had reached down and lifted the boy onto his horse and kicked it into a gallop, shouting at Cara to follow. “What was that?” she had shouted as they sped through the trees at a frightening pace. “I don’t know, just ride, keep going,” he had shouted back. He still didn’t know how they had managed to avoid colliding with anything but he credited the horses with the achievement.

  He looked over to his mount and realised it was dead. Its heart probably gave out, age among the other factors of the night likely to be the cause. Perhaps he had just ridden it too hard. It had served him well for many years and its death only served to add to his grief. Jack, my dear, dear boy, he thought. Looking to his dead son he saw Cara cradling the lifeless body, refusing to let go, refusing to believe. He tried to pull her away, citing his fear that the thing may still be hunting them, but she just cursed at him and clung on. She was angry and blamed him for what had happened. She wanted to make camp before the last hours of light gave way but he knew how close they were to the road and convinced her that they should push on, anxious to get out of the forest.

  He should have listened to her. He never listened to her.

  “Stubborn to the last, well – look were your stubbornness has got you now, you fool,” he said out loud. But Cara didn’t pay him any attention. The sound of some twigs breaking caused Tom to spin around in alarm. He scanned the tree line where the sound had come from. Cara’s horse snorted and began to stomp one of its hooves. The only light came from the small campfire and as Tom strained to see into the darkness of the forest a soft breeze swept up and blew some smoke into his eyes, stinging them. He blinked and rubbed them gently then refocussed. What he saw chilled him to his very bones. All the grief left him instantly, replaced by terror.

  There on the other side of the fire, bathed in its flickering light, stood a creature the likes of which he had never seen. It looked like a lizard but stood like a man, the eyes yellow with slitted pupils, the jaws elongated and rowed with pointed teeth. Its height was maybe six feet but its frame massive, four feet or more across the shoulders, its body covered by thick dark green scales. A large tail came into sight as it flicked menacingly through the air, cream coloured fins lining it. The same fins appeared on the head, although they were much larger there. Its arms hung close to the ground, powerful hands with long talons, they swung back and forth. The legs where wreathed with muscle, the feet webbed and clawed.

  The creature fixed its sinister eyes on Tom, the jaws opened slightly and green saliva dripped. It let out a guttural hissing breath and Tom’s body shivered involuntarily, a warm trickle running down his leg. He tried to call to Cara but fear robbed him of his voice. The creature began to move around the fire towards him, its footsteps heavy and menacing. Tom could not move, and he stood frozen to the spot. His lips quivered and his heart beat wildly.

  There came a loud scream that echoed through the forest as Cara finally saw what advanced on her h
usband. The creature snapped its head in her direction, the tail whipping through the air violently. No sooner had its eyes locked on hers than she felt frozen, unable to move or speak. She wanted to scream but nothing came out. Her horse reared and fought desperately to break from its tether but it held firm for now. It started to buck, kicking its hind legs wildly and shaking its head vigorously in fear. The creature ignored the animal and instead advanced on Cara.

  Out of its line of sight, Tom felt control of his body return to him and he turned to see the creature advancing on his wife. “You took my boy, demon – I won’t let you take my wife!” he cried and ran at the creature, his hunting knife raised ready to strike. The creature turned swiftly, swinging its massive arm that caught Tom across his upper body and sent him flying. He landed with a thud several feet away, his knife knocked clear of his hand. Sharp pain shot through his right arm and when he tried to move, it dangled uselessly. One blow had broken it clean. He coughed and blood spurted from his mouth, suggesting internal injury. Darkness enveloped him.

  Once the creature’s attention switched briefly to her husband, Cara felt free to move again. Her voice returned and she screamed aloud. Once again the creature seemed irritated by the sound and quickly refocussed its eyes on her. No sooner had its gaze fixed on her and she fell silent, her body stiffening once more. The creature squatted as if preparing to leap and she felt sure her time had come, but to her surprise it leapt away from her to a nearby tree just as a huge horse came bursting into the clearing.